ApocaDocs: Raccoons spread flu, study shows

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Posted Wed Nov 5 2008: from Toronto Globe and Mail:


	Raccoons spread flu, study shows http://apocadocs.com/s.pl?1225917605 ...New research shows the pesky critters -- called the animal world's Typhoid Mary by one of the study's authors -- can catch and spread both human and avian strains of influenza. Lead author Jeffrey Hall isn't suggesting the raccoon you have to shoo away from your garbage can is likely to infect you with the flu. But his findings point to the possibility that raccoons play a role in the emergence of new strains of influenza, helping bird viruses adapt to be able to infect mammals. That process, which involves the swapping of genes among viruses, is called reassortment and is one of the ways a strain capable of causing a flu pandemic could arise.

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'Doc Jim says:

Well, raccoons are already dressed for the part of wreaking havoc!